Intermittent Lameness

I haven’t had much to blog about this week! So here’s a Mollie post. Whenever I mention Mollie it always seems to be in relation to injuries or illness, but she’s just that kind of dog that is completely fearless, reckless and apparently with a very high pain threshold. She’s also not the kind of dog who has taken to growing old gracefully; actually, she hasn’t taken to growing old at all.

Anyway, she’s lame again in her front right leg (or paw, I’m not sure). It’s mainly noticable when she’s getting up, she’ll limp for a few paces and then be off as normal. She’s racing around like a lunatic on walks and doesn’t appear to be really that bothered about it, just holding it up occasionally when she’s paused for a rest. She goes through this every couple of weeks/months, always the same leg, although not always the same injury. This particular issue has cropped up before though, and we originally thought it might be flyball-related, but the timing at the moment is all wrong. We haven’t done any flyball since Carlton Towers (Easter weekend) due to the weather, and she’s only gone lame this week so I can’t see it being a side-effect. It seems to be when she’s been out haring after a ball or a toy.

Mum and I have been reading up and scouring the internet for possible causes because we’re getting tired and frustrated with her! The trouble is we have no idea of her history before we got her at 5yrs old, so it could just be an old injury that is twinging in the varying weather we’ve been having at the moment. This is also the same leg she self-removed a nail from last year, and the nail has just grown back, so it could be that is feeling a little strange or irritated.

The only thing I can definitely say is that it’s not in her shoulder. Kim has had shoulder injuries in the past and this isn’t the same movement when she limps; I’d take a guess at her knee, if I’m honest. That’s a new one for Mol, if I’m right! She won’t be going to the vet unless it develops into something more serious. Mollie loves going to the vets but she’s been so many times that we know now whether it’s a necessary trip or one that can be dealt with just as efficiently and much more cheaply at home.

The dogs are all due in for their boosters and a check-up soon anyway, so we’ll discuss it with our vet then.